Why Acid, not sonar/cool edit/cubase/protools?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mbouteneff
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mbouteneff

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Hi all,

I hope you can help me out! I'm deciding on a multitrack recording software package.

A couple people have recommended using Acid 4.0 as a primary multi-trasck recorder. However, it's advertised as a Loop-generator by sonic foundry, NOT as a mutli track; this has me a bit concerned... What are Acid's limitations vs using Sonar, Cool Edit Pro, Cubase, ProTools, etc?

I plan to record guitars & vocals using mics, and generating drums, keys and other sounds using Reason.

Thanks for your help!!
 
I use acid as multi track for my songs, but i'm not sure if Acid supports recording multiple line-ins all at once.

It's user friendly compared to the other softwares, i would say Acid is a good start for beginners. Acid 4 has since evolved with great plug-ins and midi support.

However i would like to ask the same question to users of the other softwares like Cubase, i know they offer more options and flexibility, but can u tell me the big advantages and differences compared to Acid?
 
Acid cannot record more than ONE input at a time.

Most people use Acid for arrangement.

If you want a true multi-tracker then tryout these....

Sonar 3.0

Nuendo

Cubase

Vegas Video 4.0 (if you want to stay in the Sony/Sonic Foundry family)

Pro Tools free

Logic

N-trak

etc......

Peace...

spin
 
BTW........

You can download free demo versions of the programs listed above at their respective sites.

Initially, you should use the one that is the most comfortable for you to use.

spin
 
ACID is NOT a multi-track recorder (as stated above). You can record lots of tracks but only one (L/R pair) at a time.

Also: ACID is NOT a performance environment, it is an authoring tool only. This means you can not capture knob tweaks and trigger samples and fx live; you have to "draw" them (usually) when the sound is off.

More: the MIDI support is, well, er, weak. (or it is to me anyway).

What ACID does better than anybody anywhere is to stretch loops/samples without changing pitch and change pitch without stretching tempo. This allows for amazing combinations (within limits) of samples you never would have thought possible; samples that started life as different tempos and keys.
 
Guys,

Thanks for clarifying. Acid is good, but I feel like I may 'outgrow' it quickly. Do you have any advice regarding Sonar vs. Cubase vs. Cool Edit vs. Protools vs. n-tracks?

I've used Reason some, and Protools a little, but not much. However, I'd like to start with something that is complex enough to satisfy my needs as I become comfortable with it.

I plan to record vocals, guitars, and bass via mic and generate drums, other instruments, and ambience with Reason.

Do any of the recorders come with more pre-loaded effects? Are any clearly more user-friendly?

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated!!

-M
 
Sonar and Cubase are comprable (big huge complicated hosts)

ProTools is similar with a lot less emphasis on MIDI.

At the end of the day you will probably want a single WAV editor and that's where Cool Edit (or Sound Forge) comes in.

If you're stuck on Reason then you really should make sure your host is at least a ReWire master or slave, that way your projects can span apps.

Almost everything comes with some set of fx with decent presets -- the only issue is how good they are. I'm not an engineer and I can even hear how bad the Cakewalk reverb is.

Don't overlook FruityLoops (nee FL Studio) -- it's a fraction of the cost and just about as featured as all the others -- and there's a rumor going around that it will be a ReWire app soon.

Good luck.
 
victors has given you good info.......

I, myself use Acid 4, Sonar 3, FLP 4, and Protools.

Once again, you should download the demo versions of all of the mentioned programs (in this thread). That way, you can figure out which one best suits your needs. :cool:

spin
 
Thanks Spin and victors --

I started downloading the demos as suggested. I hadn't heard of FL before. If I'm mostly recording indie/alternative rock (with some electronics), would you recommend either FL or Reason over the other for drum/sound generation? I'm sure I'll learn more once I start checking out the demos...

By the way, what does it mean when an app is a ReWire app?

-M
 
Ahah! Pretty cool -- I always assumed you'd have to eventually export anything you produce into another software, such as a Reason beat to Sonar, to play it.

Thanks!
 
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